Mandylion · Not made by hands
Hand-painted icon of the Holy Face of Christ
The Holy Face is the icon of icons: according to Tradition, the first image of Christ was not painted by human hands but imprinted by his face on a cloth. From this memory comes the Acheiropoieta, the very foundation of iconographic art.
The Mandylion and the legend of Abgar
King Abgar of Edessa, gravely ill, sent a messenger to Jesus asking to be healed. Christ dried his face with a cloth and left his features imprinted on it: that cloth, the Mandylion, healed the king. This is why the image is called acheiropoieta, «not made by hands».
When painting the Holy Face the iconographer does not invent: they humbly repeat a received image. By tradition it is among the first icons a student learns to paint, and it is a subject of great intensity for icon collectors.
The Saviour of the Fiery Eye
A striking variant is the Saviour of the Fiery Eye (Russian Spas Yaroe Oko), known from a 14th-century icon in the Dormition Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. The gaze is severe and penetrating: Christ who searches the heart, the merciful judge. It suits those seeking an icon with a powerful presence.
Works from the atelier
Saviour of the Fiery Eye
Rectangular panel, green border, Church Slavonic inscription.
Face of Christ
Cross-inscribed halo with the letters Ο ΩΝ.
Mandylion, detail
The cloth with the Face not made by hands, in progress.
The Holy Face
Composition with the journey of humanity through time towards eternity.
A family heritage
The Holy Face holds a special place in the history of this workshop: the Icon of the Holy Face by Lia Galdiolo, teacher and grandmother of Concetta Basile, received ecclesiastical approval and the imprimatur of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Messina, Mgr Giovanni Accolla. Concetta continues her school, in the furrow of the Russian-Byzantine technique.
Frequently asked questions
What does acheiropoieta mean?
From the Greek acheiropoietos, «not made by hands». It refers to images of Christ that Tradition holds to have been miraculously imprinted, such as the Mandylion of Edessa.
What is the difference between the Holy Face and the Pantocrator?
The Holy Face shows only the face of Christ, often on a cloth, without hands or book. The Pantocrator is half-length, blessing and holding the Gospel.
Is the Holy Face a suitable gift?
Yes, it is a gift of great spiritual intensity, suited to a priest, to someone going through a trial, or to anyone wishing for an icon for personal prayer.